The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1887-12-07
CHRIST BEFORE PLATE,


!, rc about twenty by thirty feet
~, canvas the figures all beng lie
si,o Everybody is familiar with the
o,orv The scene il early morning IN
,Go nretorlum or official residence OF
,ho Roman governor at Jerusalem
RIO nicture is drawn from descrip
,,nns in the New Testament OF the
annearance and trial Of Christ
bpafforo plate 1t is there re-
ia,od mat "when he wss accused
Of tho prtests aud elders, he ans wercd
nnthIrg." "Aud Plate answered and
snid again unto them: w hat Will ye
,batI .ball do unto hm whom ye Gull
King of the Jews and they cried ont
again, cruciiy him" In the centre OF
the picture is the figure OF the
saviour. with his hands bound, erect
composed, going -teadiastly on the
face of pllate Around ana behind
him crowd the rabbie of Jerusalem,
some frantic others attracted by idle
curiosity, others apparently bent
merely ON killing time. In the imme-
dioto iniruround Is Roman soldier
holding the mob in check with the
shaft OF bis -Icar. Pontius PLATE sits
az the repre-, entative OF Caesar on The
Judgment throne. He is modi'ating
and is greatly perplcXed. lie knows
nothing against Christ, but dare not
resist the clamor Of the people, ON
The right of plate, stands Calaphas,
the chief accuser OF Christ, with hir
arm extended toward the excited
populace The figure pressing tor
ward in the crowd with uplittcd arm,
ia ruilian OF the lowest type. He is
shouting "Crucify Him Cruelty
Uimw On the left of Plate sit two
elders, watching the proceedings
with deep interest. Between CHRIST
and Csiaphas, sitting OH bench, i u
rich banker, looking on with con
temptuous curiosity. Near HIM ls
Young rowdy, leaning over the rail"
ing and scofling Ia the face OF Jesus.
pcrched on high stool by the side OF
the Judgment seat and resting his head
against the wall is scribe who views
the scene with all air of weary indii
ference. A knot of old men Il seated
in an angle of the room to the lett of
the banker. They are apparently ar
puinp Chriets claim that he is the
promised Messiah. Conspicuously
raised above the heads of the crowd
is seen young mother with boauu
full face, holding child III her arms,
and looking at Jesus with tenderness
and compassion. Through the whole
picture are groups of figures and faces
rejecting the different elnotlohs 'hat
animate each individual
THIS picture has been on exhibition
in the principal cities OF Europe and
is now being exhibited IN America.
1t has been viewed by millions OF PEG
pie and has created moro sensation
throughout tho entire civilized world
than any other painting ever prouuc
ed. In the city OF New York II was
on exhibition several months and was
seen by hundreds of thousands OF PEG
ple, 1t was recently sold to John
Wannamsker, of Philadelphia, for
100000 in cash.
Michael Von Munkacsy, the painter
of this wonderful picture, was born
ia 1874 In the fortress OF OF Munkacs,
Uugary. His parents died when he
was five years old, and poor uncle
who took charge of him apprentlced
him TO carpenter. Some students
at college where he was working
Taught him to read and write. tie
took an especial interest in history
and poetry. His first ideas of
paintiug were obtained from "a
portrait painter, who instructed
him in drawing and also
in literature. He soon began
to give drawing lessons himself. HIS
first successful painting was that OF
10 entire family OF tailor, for which